Tour Venue Seven

DAR Constitution Hall, 1776 D Street NW, Washington DC.

The DAR or Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based only membership service organisation for women who are directly descended from a soldier or other person involved in the United States' struggle for independence. A non-profit group, they work to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism.

Their motto is "God, Home, and Country."

On 30 October 1928, the cornerstone was laid by Mrs Calvin Coolidge using the trowel George Washington used to lay the cornerstone at the Capitol in 1793.  Every President since Calvin Coolidge has attended events at DAR Constitution Hall. 

Mrs Herbert Hoover was the guest speaker at the venue opening on 19 April 1929.  It was built by the DAR to house its annual convention when the event outgrew Memorial Continental Hall (built 1905) nearby and both buildings were later connected by a third - the DAR Museum, offices and genealogical library.

It was designed by architect John Russell Pope and sits east of the Department of the Interior, between American Red Cross and Organisation of American States and across from the Ellipse (President's Park South) in front of the White House. 

The design is Neoclassical faced with Alabama limestone. It is unusual in its U-shaped balcony that is necessary in order to provide the seating but retain sight distances. There is also a 3 manual, 40 rank Skinner pipe organ. 

As well as the usual orchestra level and tiered seating there are 52 boxes of 5 seats each and naturally, because of its location, a Presidential box.  Until 1950, the Hall had a glass ceiling and a view if the stars. 

From 1930, it was home to the National Symphony Orchestra until they moved in 1971.

Early mainstream Country music also featured, organised by Connie B Gay (a founding father and major force in country music). He is credited for coining the country music genre, which had previously been called hillbilly music.

The National Geographic Society lecture films were presented there three evenings a week for decades and were always sold-out. The famous Air Force band performed free each Sunday's.

In 1939, the DAR denied African-American singer Marian Anderson the opportunity to sing there causing the first lady Eleanor Roosevelt to resign her membership in protest. The venue later reversed their racial exclusion policy and Anderson performed there for an American Red Cross war relief benefit in 1943. In 1964, she chose it as her first venue for her farewell concert tour.  

It is still owned and operated by the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution and is still the city's largest auditorium.  It is used for concerts, by schools, for conferences and meetings, for televised events and other performances. 

It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985.

Notable events:  Premiere in 1939 of Mr Smith Goes to Washington, recording site for Eddie Murphy Delirious in 1983, Whitney Houston's Classic Whitney concerts in 1997, Chris Rock's HBO special and Robin Williams HBO special Weapons of Self Destruction in 2009.  It has hosted TV recordings of Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune and annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

Notable artists: Aerosmith, Loan Armatrading, Beach Boys, Bee Gees, Big Bird, James Brown, Maria Callas, Montserrat Caballe, Ray Charles, Crosby Stills & Nash, Dalai Lama, Bob Dylan, Earth Wind & Fire, Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, Bob Hope, Elton John, Gladys Knight, Jay Leno, New York Philharmonic, Luciano Pavarotti, Andrew Previn, Kenny Rogers, Frank Sinatra, U2, Bruce Springsteen, and also Harry Styles!